Rocking chairs with adjustable backs



y 2, 1956 E. M. DE LA CUESTA ROCKING CHAIRS WITH ADJUSTABLE BACKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1952 Z 1 2 8 fl H 2 F H. N M 1 h. m M I.) v i f M Mr 7 2 8 a w u .5 v m. k 8 M H x we ma m m w a O.

{JOLILYJU E. M. DE LA CUESTA 2,746,523

ROCKING CHAIRS WITH ADJUSTABLE BACKS Filed Jan. 16, 1952 May 22, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOR/VEY r 2,746,523 Rooms CHAIRS ADJUSTABLE BACKS Eduardo de la Cues'ta, Havana, Cuba 4 Application January 16, 1952, Serial No. 266,631

. priority, application Cuba July 9, 19-51 1 (Ilaim. 01. 155 -116) My invention relates specifically to rocking chairs in which the inclination of the back can be adjusted by simply raising the front portion of the seat and either pulling it forward or pushing it backward, thereby adjusting the inclination of the back to the convenience of the user, an"-operation that can be "easily and quickly performed.

An object of my invention is to provide a rocking chair in which the back can be adjusted at any desired angle from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal one.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rocking chair in which the back can be adjusted to the desired angle by the user without the necessity of rising completely out of the chair.

Still another object is to provide a rocking chair in which the operation of adjustment is so simple and easy that even persons weakened by age or disease can accomplish it without aid from a third party.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description, made in conjunction with the annexed drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chair invented by me, which. is shown in normal position. Figure 2 is a lateral view of the same chair with the back inclined at a sharp angle.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the central line of the chair, with certain parts broken off.

Figure 4 is a top view of the seat of the chair.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the seat of the chair,

as seen when standing on one of its lateral edges;

.Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the lateral upright members of the chair back; a

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the members that act as links to connect the lateral upright members of the back to the rear legs of the chair;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the rear legs of the chair;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the members that form the arms of the chair;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the front legs of the chair; and

,Figure 11 is a perspective view of the cross member which unites the front legs of the chair and on which the front portion of the seat rests with one end attached 7 to the left front legs.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 indicates the rockers to the upper edges of which the front legs 2 are tenoned, said legs 2 being connected to each other, at

approximately their median points, by cross piece 3 attachment to the chair back in the manner which will be described further on.

United sms a o To approximately the median point of the upper edge of each rocker 1 is attached ashort leg 10 by means of the corresponding tenon, said legs 10 having at their upper ends slots 11 formed with exterior portions 11' of greater extension and adequate inclinations for. adjustment with the lower edges of the corresponding extensions of the lateral members 20 of the chair back, legs it) beingprovided with slots or mortises 12 and 13 to which are att'aChed by means of pins, the reinforcing cross pieces 14 and 15 respectively.

.Pivoting in slots 11 are links 16, the lower extensions 17 of which fit into said slots 11 of short legs 10 and are held in position by suitable pins or 'bolts 40 on which they pivot. Links 16 the upper ends of which have extensions 18 pivotally connected by pins 41 to slots 19 in the lower ends of members 20 that form parts of the chair back. Extensions 21 in said ends of members 20 extend downward with an inclination adapted to make their lower edges 22 abut with thecorresponding upper edges '11 of legs 10. The inner faces of links 16 are provided with openings 23 to receive the ends 33 of the axles on which the chair seat turns. Members 20 of the chair back present on their front faces slots 24 adapted to receive tenons 9 of chair arms 8 which are held in place by suitable pins 42 so that said armsv can pivot in said slots. Members 20 are also furnished, on their inner faces, with mortises 25' and 26 into which are fitted the tenons formed atthe ends of the top and bottom crosspieces 27, 28 respectively, which constitutes parts of the chair back 29.

Finally, referring to Figures-l and 3 illustrating the chair in normal position, We have the chair seat, indicated by 3b, in which the front portion has a down-turned border 31 and the rear portion is attached to an axle 32, the ends of which project laterally (indicated by 33) that penetrate and pivot in openings 23 on the inner faces of links 16. Depending from the lateral edges of the seat are members 34 to the inner front portions of which are attached the notched members 35. The notches 36 on pieces or'members 35 are destined to receive the upper edge 5 ofcross member 3, thereby adjusting the inclination of the chair back in accordance with the notches engaging cross piece 3, as is best illustrated in Figure 3 and also in Figure 2.

As plainly seen in the drawings and preceding description, the seat of the chair is the principal element employed in producing the adjustment of the inclination of the back. When said seat is raised suiiiciently at the front end to have the notches 36 clear the upper edge 5 of cross-member 3 the angle of inclination of back 29 can be adjusted by simply pulling seat 30 forward or backward. For instance, supposing the seat to be in the position indicated in Figures l and 3 (normal position) with the first notch 36 engaging member 3 and the front end of seat 30 is raised so that said notch is clear of member 3 and theseat 30 is pulled forward till the second notch is in line with member 3 to allow the seat 38 to again rest on member 3, the back of the chair will then have the inclination illustrated in Figure 2, and this inclination can be increased at will by simply repeating the operation and having the third notch engage member 3. If it is desired to decrease the angle of inclination of the back the operation is reversed, that is, the seat is raised and pushed back. till the notch producing the desired inclination engages member 3.

As can be seen clearly in Figure 2, when seat 30 is raised and pulled forward it causes link 16 to rotate forward and the upper end of link 16 being pivoted to the have referred only to rocking chairs, it will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art that the principle of my invention is also applicable to chairs that do not rock and, therefore, it must be understood that said drawings and description are not limiting but simply illustrative and that the scope of the invention is that of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a chair with an adjustable back the combination of two front legs provided at their upper ends with slots from front to back, a horizontal cross member joining said legs, two chair arms the front ends of which are received in said slots in said front legs, two pins pivotally connecting said chair arms to said front legs at said slots, two relatively short rear legs having slots in the upper ends thereof, a rear cross member connecting said rear legs, two side rails connecting said front and rear legs, two links having upper and lower extensions and having recesses in the' inner faces of said links, pins pivotally retaining said lower extensions in said slots on said rear legs, two upright back members having slots in the lower ends thereof and having openings on the front faces of said members, pins pivotally retaining said upper link extensions in said slots on said upright back members, pins pivotally retaining the rear ends of said chairarms in said openings on said upright back members, a pair of back uniting members connecting said upright back members, a chair seat, a horizontal axle attached to the rear of said chair seat with its ends rotatably inserted into the recesses in said links, said chair seat having side members with a plurality of notches in the front portion thereof having a depth and width so that they are engageable over the top edge of the horizontal cross member connecting the two front legs to prevent lateral movement of said chair seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 9,647 Brittan Apr. 12, 1881 6,514X Harrington Apr. 23, 1831 702,331 Roberts June 10, 1902 871,022 Anthony Nov. 12, 1907 1,326,275 Koerner Dec; 30, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS 168,682 Austria Dec. 15, 1950 

